The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26
TRAIN BOODLERS.
The Missouri Pacific North Bound
Train Robbed Last Night.
The Operator at MCNEIL Over
powered Two Men Shot,
Officers on Trail of
the Robbers.
From Thursdays Daily

laSU ulBnG COnudlueu Jne SGArGllnS
intelligence that the north bounC
Missouri Pacific passenger train, which
arrived here from San Antonio at S:4!
last night, was boarded by fifteen men al
MCNEIL station, thirteen miles above the
city. The station is merely a stopping
point at the junction of the Missouri
Pacific and Narrow Gauge roads, and in
formation received concerning the rob
berry was difficult to obtain last night, and
that which was received is meagre and
unsatisfactory. Every endeavor mas been
made to get Geographic or telephone
communication with Mcneil, Round Rock
Taylor or Georgetown for particulars, bu
up to the present hour l o'clock without
success.
The intelligence received by Sheriff
Hornsby and Marshal Lucy is to the effect
that the gang of robbers, about
fifteen in number, captured
the operator at Mcneil before
the arrival of the train, and as
soon as it drew in covered the engineer
and express messenger with Winchester
rifles. While portion of the crowd were
thus employed others went through the
express car robbing it, but of how much
could not be learned. The passen-
gers were also gone through,
one losing a gold watch and
chain and another diamond pin. Resist
ance was made, and two men were shot
by the robbers, one through the arm, the
other through the head. 1t is not known
whether the wounds were serious, nor
whether they were received by train men
or passengers. 1t was stated last night
that the mail was not disturbed, but this
report lacks confirmation.
As soon as the news was received in this
city, about half-past 10 o'clock, last night,
Capt. Lucy Immediately begun to organize
a posse to start in pursuit. Sheriff
Hornsby is confined to his bed by sickness
and Deputy Sheriff Sam Platt Joined with
Lucy in gathering his force.
United States Marshal Rankin, who
had just arrived from San Antonio, also
Joined the party. A crowd was speedily
gathered, but some delay was experienced
in getting horses, and still further delay
in obtaining Winchesters. Application
was made to the adjutant generals office,
but Captain SEEKER declined to furnish
the weapons, it is said,
alleging, as reason, that
the state had already lost so many guns
by loaning them out that he did not feel
warranted in complying with Captain
Lucy's request. This necessitated the
troublesome work of getting arms from
private parties, but at length the posse
got off, about II O'Clock.
special train was in readiness,
and men and horses were
hurried on board and hurried to the scene.
Besides Marshal Lucy Deputy sheriff
Platt and Captain Rankin, the following
men we're in the posse: Sergeant Palmer,
Officers Rundell, Gussoway, Jake Platt,
Anglin Bracken, Montgomery and Walter
Robinson. Sheriff Olive, of Williamson
county, with a posse from
Georgetown, and the marshal
of Round Rock, with another
posse, were expected to start toward the
scene last night. The country around
McNeill is rough, billy, timbered and
sparsely settled. The robbers are known
to be heavily armed, and the chase is likely
to be long and tedious one.
1t was reported at 1:45 this morning
that the robbers were young men, undis-
guised; were dressed generally in dark
clothes, and wore spurs. They were armed
with Winchesters and shotguns. Several
OF them we're recognized. Mr.. Hume, as
sistant superintendent of the road, was
shot at several times, but was not struck.
The latest report puts 1t in doubt as to
the robbery of the express car.
From Fridays Daily.l
The daring "hold up" of the Missouri
Pacific train at Mcneil junction, night
before last as detailed in yesterdays
STATESMAN, was the sensation of the day
in the CITY. Discussed on the street, in
offices. hotel corridors and all the loung-
ing places, every rumor was grasped with
ayidity, repeated with eagerness and ex-
handed by the fervency of heated imagi-
nations. In the early part of the day a
man, while lunching in Pecan street res
taurant. proved himself to be monu-
mental liar, by gravely asserting that he
had seen a telegram which announced
that the possee had come upon the rob-
hers. a pitched battle had occurred In
which Sam Platt and one or two others
had been killed and several wounded.
This fabrication, of course, spread ike
wildfre. and until late yesterday
evening there were many who did not
know but that the statement was abso-
lutely true. Sergeant Palmer, with
Officers Conner and Anglln, re-
turned early yesterday morning, leaving
the remainder of the Austin force with
posse from Georgetown under command
of Sheriff Olive, and posse from Round
Rock. at the junction awaiting the arrival
of q mack of blood hounds that had been
shipped by special train from the con
vict camp near Hearne. A telegram re-
ceiyed during the forenoon stated that
the dogs had arrived and at once taken the
trail. From that time ON nothing was
heard from the scene of action until the
arrival of the train last night.
IN PURSUIT.
District-Attorney Robertson who went
up the road on the morning train yester-
day, returned last night, bringing the3 In
formation that five or six parties had
been arrested on suspicion, bat were re-
leased, having satisfactorily proven their
whereabouts at the time of the attack.
The posse were still on the trail with the
blood hounds still trailing the boodlers.
Dlrinx the day the pursuers came up
to the camp of the gang and found rem
nants of express packages, showing that
they had there divided the spells.
DELIBERATE SCHEME.
From all that can be gathered concern
ing the robbery, it is evident that, while
the major portion of the gang were
rnNh